Three local policemen and one Russian soldier were killed in the latest fighting in the rebel republic of Chechnya, an official of the Moscow-backed government there said Tuesday.
The three police died in a landmine blast against their vehicle outside the devastated capital Grozny late Monday, the official, who asked not to be named, said.
Another blast killed one Russian soldier and wounded another in the Staropromyslovsky neighbourhood of Grozny that same evening, he said.
Four other soldiers were wounded in an ambush against their military convoy in the south-eastern Nozhai-Yurt village. Three more were wounded in 10 separate attacks against government positions.
Russian forces retreated from Chechnya after a 1994-1996 war against separatists and returned in 1999, taking control of most of the tiny republic in heavy fighting.
Five years on, however, five years on, they continue to suffer almost daily losses against guerrillas.